Bloomberg, Black and Klein (NYC Mayor's Office)In the wake of a
state panel recommending against granting a waiver to allow Cathie Black to become NYC Schools Chancellor, the
NY Times reports that Mayor Bloomberg's administration tried—in secret— to seek a compromise with the state: "State officials proposed that City Hall consider the second appointment to settle concerns about Ms. Black’s lack of experience in education, these people said Wednesday. But talks fell apart by Tuesday, and that afternoon David M. Steiner, the education commissioner, hardened the state’s position by saying publicly that he was disinclined to approve Ms. Black unless she had an official with education experience to help her run the system."
The panel's recommendation is not binding, and State Education Commissioner Steiner has final say in whether the successful publishing executive can get a waiver—necessary because she doesn't have education credentials— to lead the largest public schools system in
